NFL Coaching Changes for 2022 & What It Means for Fantasy Football

Every March the Fantasy Footballers dive into their NFL Coaching Changes podcast to highlight the head coaches and offensive coordinator movement and how it affects fantasy.

This year we have nine new head coaches and a total of 12 new offensive coordinators. Let’s break down each team starting with the head coaches, share their past experience, a fun fact(!), the 2021 offensive production, and what this change could mean for fantasy. Watch the entire show on Youtube if you dig Mike the Fantasy Hitman Wright‘s “It’s Birthday Time” intro!

Chicago Bears

Head Coach: Matt Eberflus– replacing Matt Nagy

• IND Defensive coordinator (2018-2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy- replacing Bill Lazor

• Green Bay QB coach (2019-’21)

Eberflus’ legacy will be intertwined with the development of Justin Fields. The team traded the house for him moving up last year leaving them with no first-round picks in 2022. The offensive line needs major help after Fields registered one of the worst sack rates (11.8) of all-time. The upside is still there with his dual-threat ability to land near the top-12 among fantasy QBs at the end of the year. New OC Luke Getsy is a big gamble with this being his first time calling plays in the NFL.

Denver Broncos

Head Coach: Nathaniel Hackett- replacing Vic Fangio

• JAX Offensive Coordinator (2016-2018)
• GB Offensive coordinator (2019-2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Justin Outten- replacing Pat Shurmur

• Green Bay TE Coach (2019-2021)

After starting the year 3-0 due to a soft schedule, the Broncos ended at 7-10 and Vic Fangio was out the door. Hackett had a ton of success in Green Bay but he also was tied to a Hall of Fame QB in Aaron Rodgers. There is speculation that Rodgers could end up in Denver but at this point, all we know is that Denver is a QB away from truly being able to compete in a tough AFC West. The defense is solid and after taking CB Patrick Surtain II at 9th overall last year, the Broncos find themselves for the 2nd year in a row in the same exact draft spot. They’ve been tied to taking a rookie QB like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett.

Houston Texans

Head Coach: Lovie Smith- replacing David Culley

• CHI Head Coach (2004-2012)
• TB Head Coach (2014-2015)
• Univ. of Illinois Head Coach (2016-2020)
• HOU Defensive Coordinator (2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Pep Hamilton- replacing Tim Kelly

• IND Offensive Coordinator (2013-2015)
• Michigan, XFL, other stops (2016-2019)
• HOU QB Coach (2020)

You have to feel slightly bad for Culley who really was in a no-win situation with the Texans. With by far the worst roster in the NFL, finishing at 4-12 isn’t too bad. While the Texans have the 3rd overall pick, they also have $35 million on the books in dead cap for players NOT currently on their roster. Pep Hamilton was there during the development of Andrew Luck but it’s hard having much success with an offense with very few playmakers. Who is the starting RB on this team?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Head Coach: Doug Pederson- replacing Urban Meyer

• PHI Head Coach (2016-2020)
• Sat on His Butt (2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Press Taylor- replacing Darrell Bevel

• PHI Assistant/QB Coach (2013-2020)
• IND Sr. offensive assistant (2021)

Flush it down the toilet. All of it. All of the Urban Meyer filth you remember from 2021 and maybe give Trevor Lawrence a second chance? It was an abysmal year across the board as Jacksonville averaged a league-low 14.9 points per game and hit their team implied total in just four of their 17 games. With the 1st overall pick, expect them to select an offensive tackle (Alabama’s Evan Neal or NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu) to protect their franchise QB. Pederson and Taylor have a ton of experience together so perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Las Vegas Raiders

Head Coach: Josh McDaniels- replacing Jon Gruden/Rich Bisaccia

• DEN HC (2009-2010)
• NE Offensive Coordinator (2006-08, ‘12-21)

Offensive Coordinator: Mick Lombardi- replacing Greg Olson

• NE Patriots Assistant (2019-2021)
• 2021- WR Coach

It’s wild to think it’s been 12 years since McDaniels was the head coach of the Broncos. [Editor’s Note: It did not go well.] The Raiders’ offense was better than you might realize in 2021 moving the ball effectively en route to a WildCard playoff spot. McDaniels has stated that Carr will be the team’s starting QB in 2022 but the WR corps (outside of slot machine Hunter Renfrow) is barren. Expect them to add another offensive playmaker in the draft. The verdict is still out on whether McDaniels can be a head coach in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins

Head Coach: Mike McDaniel- replacing Brian Flores

• SF Run game coordinator (2017-2020)
• SF Offensive Coordinator (2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Frank Smith- replacing Godsey/Studesville

• NO OLine Coach (2010-2014)
• TE Coach in CHI & OAK/LV (2015-2020)
• LAC Run Game Coordinator/OLine (2021)

WADDLE! McDaniel has preached how he wants to get Jaylen Waddle uber-involved in the game plan the same way they used Deebo Samuel in San Francisco. In theory, the Kyle Shanahan-style offense makes sense but the personnel is much different in Miami. They ranked 32nd in PFF’s end-of-season offensive line rankings allowing the most pressures in the NFL. Tua Tagovailoa‘s maturation is the biggest step for this offense while figuring out who their RB will be for fantasy is what might interest us the most over the off-season.

Minnesota Vikings

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell- replacing Mike Zimmer

• WAS Offensive Coordinator (2019)
• LAR Offensive Coordinator (2020-21)

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips- replacing Klint Kubiak

• WAS TE Coach (2014-2018)
• LAR TE Coach (2019-2021)

O’Connell and Phillips are carrying the musk of Sean McVay and a successful Super Bowl run in their back pockets. The situation in Minnesota is ripe and we should expect business as usual with the offensive weapons. Justin Jefferson is elite. Dalvin Cook is awesome. If Kirk Cousins is officially back, they should continue trucking and could compete in the NFC North with the Packers.

New Orleans Saints

Head Coach: Dennis Allen- replacing Sean Payton

• OAK Head Coach (2012-2014)
• NO Defensive Coordinator (2015-2021)

The Sean Payton era is over but things shouldn’t be that different in New Orleans. Allen has been the long-time defensive coordinator and steadily improved his unit. New Orleans’ defense was stout ranking 4th in points allowed and the fewest yards per carry allowed (3.7) on the ground. On the offensive side of the ball, Pete Carmichael Jr. has been in his role for 14 years! The NFC South is arguably one of the weakest divisions in the NFL so with the QB situation stabilized, they could easily win the division.

New York Giants

Head Coach: Brian Daboll- replacing Joe Judge

• BUF Offensive Coordinator (2018-2021)

Offensive Coordinator: Mike Kafka- replacing Jason Garrett

• KC Chiefs QB Coach (2018-2021)

This organization was an absolute train wreck as Joe Judge (Mr. Testerone) and GM Dave Gettleman (IT’s ME DAVE) were shown the door. Daboll will have his work cut out for him and while Daniel Jones does share some comparable traits with Josh Allen, it’s hard envisioning the high-end production for fantasy coming in his 4th year. Their cap situation isn’t great, the roster needs a big makeover, and there are rumblings Saquon Barkley could be traded. Overall, the hire is good for fantasy but does it translate to success on the field?

Team Offensive Coordinator Changes (same head coach)

Buffalo Bills

Ken Dorsey — replacing Brian Daboll

• CAR QB Coach (2013-2017)
• BUF QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator (2019-2021)

The former University of Miami QB (remember that 2001 team?) steps in for Brian Daboll. Expect much of the same here in Buffalo with Josh Allen at the helm.

Carolina Panthers

Ben McAdoo– replacing Joe Brady

• NYG Head Coach (2016-2017)
• (2018-2019)
• JAX QB Coach (2020)
• DAL “Consultant” (2021)

You won’t find many McAdoo truthers out there. This is one of the more curious hires of the off-season as he hasn’t had any role calling plays since 2017. A lot has changed in the NFL since then Ben.

Detroit Lions

Ben Johnson — replacing Anthony Lynn

• DET Off. Quality Control, TE Coach (2019-2021)

Johnson saw an increased role into passing game coordinator in 2nd half of season. Lynn, on the other hand, did not work out so well as a retread coach.

Green Bay Packers

Adam Stenavich — replacing Nathaniel Hackett

• GB OLine Coach (2019-2021)

Rodgers and LaFleur are the real offensive coordinators here.

Los Angeles Rams

Liam Coen– replacing Kevin O’Connell

• LAR Assistant (2018-2020)
• Univ. of Kentucky Offensive Coordinator (2021)
• FUN FACT:  QB at UMass where he was roommates with Victor Cruz
  

McVay runs this show… We get it.